Jessica Freeland
Actor ⋆ Writer ⋆ Musician
THE LOVELY LUCILLE is a one-act play about a circus elephant who recalls pieces of her life while waiting backstage. It brings animal abuse, particularly the life of circus elephants, to the surface. It also serves as an allegory for the misrepresentation of women. And, calls to mind the price of entertainment when dealing with hive mentality and where, if any, boundaries are crossed for the sake of a brief thrill. The play touches upon mental illness, and the triggers that keep one repeating dangerous cycles that inhibit one’s ability to attain free will. Finally, it opens up the conversation about the tolerance and acceptance, or lack thereof, of our differences and similarities.
Character Description:
THE LOVELY LUCILLE (female, any ethnicity, 40+) is a circus elephant. She is a beautiful, sentient being with a great sense of humor, but her hard, horrible life has made her unstable, and frighteningly manic. Trapped in an endless cycle of abuse, even when there appears to be a way out, LUCILLE retreats inwardly.
Official Selection: Holmdel Theatre Company's Evening of New Works
YOU LEFT ME BEHIND is about broke, bitter, and overwhelmed, thirty-something LIV, who stumbles upon her long-forgotten keepsake box, which resurfaces old memories and sparks new wounds. Confronted by her younger, more vibrant and artistic self, LIV questions her life choices as she decides what’s truly disappointing, and defines what success really means in this story about a second coming of age.
Character Description:
LIV (female, any ethnicity, 30s) a woman caught in the space between responsibility and freedom.
YOUNGER LIV (female, matches LIV, teenager) a young adult filled with hope, ambition, and purpose.
Official Selection: The MAC One-Acts Play-Reading Festival
THE CURRENT EURYDICE is a modern piece about a classic problem. Featuring a present-day Eurydice and Orpheus, this one-act play delves into the tragic consequences of having both heroism and arrogance in a relationship that fails to define the responsibilities of a loving partner. As the couple argues with one another about their faults, from inconsistency to co-dependency, they journey into their own dark underworld and discover how far they’ll go to mend what’s broken in themselves and save each other.
Character Description:
EURYDICE (female, any ethnicity, 20s-30s) ORPHEUS’ partner. A young woman who wants to leave the darkness, but can’t do it on her own.
ORPHEUS (male, any ethnicity, 20s-30s) EURYDICE’s partner. A young man who wants to keep his promises, but can’t do it on his own.